New Jersey Law Against Discrimination

3. The Legislature finds and declares that practices of discrimination against any
of its inhabitants, because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, marital status, familial status,
liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, or nationality, are
matters of concern to the government of the State, and that such discrimination threatens
not only the rights and proper privileges of the inhabitants of the State but menaces the
institutions and foundation of a free democratic State; provided, however, that nothing in
this expression of policy prevents the making of legitimate distinctions between citizens
and aliens when required by federal law or otherwise necessary to promote the national
interest.

The Legislature further declares its opposition to such practices of discrimination
when directed against any person by reason of the race, creed, color, national origin,
ancestry, age, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, marital status, liability for
service in the Armed Forces of the United States, or nationality of that person or that
person's spouse, partners, members, stockholders, directors, officers, managers,
superintendents, agents, employees, business associates, suppliers, or customers, in order
that the economic prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants of the State may be
protected and ensured.

The Legislature further finds that because of discrimination, people suffer personal
hardships, and the State suffers a grievous harm. The personal hardships include: economic
loss; time loss; physical and emotional stress; and in some cases severe emotional trauma,
illness, homelessness or other irreparable harm resulting from the strain of employment
controversies; relocation, search and moving difficulties; anxiety caused by lack of
information, uncertainty, and resultant planning difficulty; career, education, family and
social disruption; and adjustment problems, which particularly impact on those protected
by this act. Such harms have, under the common law, given rise to legal remedies,
including compensatory and punitive damages. The Legislature intends that such damages be
available to all persons protected by this act and that this act shall be liberally
construed in combination with other protections available under the laws of this
State."